Take a Letter Maria

Album: R.B. Greaves (1969)
Charted: 2
Play Video
  • Last night as I got home, about a half past ten
    There was the woman I thought I knew, in the arms of another man
    I kept my cool, I ain't no fool, let me tell you what happened then
    I packed some clothes and I walked out, and I ain't going back again

    [Chorus:]
    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

    You've been many things but most of all a good secretary to me
    And it's times like this I feel you've always been close to me
    Was I wrong to work nights to try to build a good life
    All work and no play has just cost me a wife

    [Chorus]

    When a man loves a woman it's hard to understand
    That she would find more pleasure in the arms of another man
    I never really noticed how sweet you are to me
    It just so happens I'm free tonight, would you like to have dinner with me

    [Chorus]

    So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
    Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Jamesb from Diamond Bar Ca What a smash - Wish it could have got to Number 1 - Love the drumming
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyExactly fifty years ago today on November 16th, 1969 "Take A Letter Marie" by R.B. Greaves peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Wedding Bell Blues"* by the 5th Dimension...
    The rest of the Top 10 on November 16th, 1969:
    At #3. "Something" by The Beatles
    #4. "And When I Die"* by Blood, Sweat and Tears
    #5. "Smile A Little Smile For Me" by The Flying Machine
    #6. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam
    #7. "Come Together" by The Beatles
    #8. "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" by Stevie Wonder
    #9. "Suspicious Mind" by Elvis Presley
    #10. "I Can't Get Next To You" by The Temptations
    R.I.P. to both R.B. Greaves {1943 - 2012} and Laura Nyro {1947 - 1997}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, both "Wedding Bell Blues" and "And When I Die" were composed by Laura Nyro...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 12th 1969, "Take A Letter Maria" by R.B. Greaves entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #61; and on November 16th, 1969 it peaked at #2 {for 1 week} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #10 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    One year later in 1970 it was covered by Anthony Armstrong Jones; his version peaked at #8 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    And then in 1999 Doug Stone's covered version reached #45 on the Hot Country singles chart...
    The week R.B.'s "Take A Letter Maria" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was 'Wedding Bell Blues" by the Fifth Dimension...
    R.I.P. Mr. Greaves, born Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves the III {1943 - 2012}.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhVery fun song to listen to and sing along with!
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI remember this song.Also a good story packaged with it.
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaGreat song. Wonderful little story packaged inside it.
  • Barry from Greenville, NcR.B.'s actual name is Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves and he's the nephew of Sam Cooke. Half Native American, he was raised on a Seminole reservation in California.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New York

Barney Hoskyns Explores The Forgotten History Of Woodstock, New YorkSong Writing

Our chat with Barney Hoskyns, who covers the wild years of Woodstock - the town, not the festival - in his book Small Town Talk.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."